Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-01-29
Patriotic VS.. Practical POIitics-The
True Remedy.

True Remedy.
To the editor Of The Alexandria Gazette
Your leading editorial of the 2lst affords
much food for thought, and, unlike most OF
what you write, when the subject is 1.-THE
civil service reform humbug," it afirms lit
tie which the supporters of that reform are
unwilling to admit. The justice OF the in
ferences you draw from the facts stated,
however, they emphatically deny.
After quoting with appreciation the ap-
palling threat of the Wilmington Star that
North Carolina will vote republican in the
next Presidential election unless the demo
Gratis return to the spoils system, pure and
simple, you declare, with proper regret, that
the day Of patriotic politics and principles is
past, and that no tie is now so strong rs the
cohesive power of the spoils." You sup
port this by appealing to the fact that the
two great parties are clearly divided on not
one OF the great issues now before the coun-
try.
1t is perfectly true, IS you say, that in
parties now, as such, there is as little patri-
otism rs principle-the one main reason, by
the way, for the existence OF the mugwump
but such was not always the case with us,
and because it is SO now Is no reason why it
should so continue. Remove the cause and
the evil will to q large extent disappear.
What then is the cause? Simply, this
very doctrine-"To the victor belong the
spoils'-of which the Alexandria GAZETTE
is so stout supporter. When was it not
the case? When were the palmy days Of
the republic, which ali allow once existed,
when patriotism ruled and principle was
Of NO. or
duriug our first forty years, before the evil
day Andrew Jackson became President
and inaugurated the spoils system, ejecting
from office during his first term more per-
sons than all his predecessors had displaced
since the beginning?
But, we are told, if Office ceases to be the
| reward of successful party service, voters
will no longer take interest in elections, and
fatal apathy as to public affairs will fall
upon the people. If such were the natural
consequence of such change, why has it
not been proved so in our sister republic
for a republic in the best and highest sense
it is in everything but name-Great Britain.
| There, when the reins OF government change
| hands, few dozen OF the highest officials
change with it and no more. Members Of
the civil service are as secure in their posi-
tons as military and naval officers. But
has apathy ensued? Let the last three or
four general elections, of which the recol-
lection is fresh with all of Us, answer. 1t is
difficult TO understand how anything could
have excited wider interest or fuller vote,
nor is better proof needed that men, when
permitted TO do it, will divide on principle
in politics and be quite as active and enthu-
siastic as when pef is the predominant mo-
tive.
Again. 1t is notorious that, while the
tone of politics in England has during the
last half century great risen, it has in the
United States proportionately declined.
This is due TO the utter extinction in that
time of the spois system in the one country
and to its gradual but complete adoption in
the other During the 18th aud 18th CEN
turies, and even down to the present
reign, the vices of the British civil
service were monstrous; merit had little to
do with appointment to Office, and every
thing went by favor. These evils have now
been so fully eradicated and the merit sys-
tenn so firmly established that recent pre-
mier said on the hastings that he could not
control the appointment Of single clerk in
government employment. In respect to
gaining Office in the mother country, the
son of the peer at length stands on the same
foOtlUS as the sou Oh INC peasant LIE
abuses which England has laid aside We
have deliberately adopted, and the baleful
influences from which their elimination re.
leved her have, in consequence, become our
portion.
This is just what the civil service reform
err claims, viz: That as long as the party
in possession Of the executive branch of the
government is allowed to control the ap
pointment to all offices, were self interest
will be the ruling motive of party activity,
and really higher tone in politics be i'm
possible. Remove this motive by the intro
duction of the merit system, and principle
will have chance TO be considered and to
bein issue. Destroy the spoils system aud Sen.
ators and Representatives in Congress will no
longer be obliged to spend one.thrd of their
time trying to get offices for their constitu-
ents, ard will be enabled to give due atten.
ton to their duties as legislators.
L. N. B.
Fairfax county, Va, Jan. %.